Yo Mahesh ends his career with 108 wickets in 50 first-class matches. He also has 93 dismissals in List A cricket at an average of 24.67.
After Dinesh Karthik's dismissal in the 31st over, Ramaswamy Prasanna (56) and Mahesh combined well to take Tamil Nadu to a safer position with a 110-run sixth wicket stand before both became left-arm spinner Darekar's victims.
Two-time defending champions Chennai Super Kings made a complete meal of a most modest total of 126 for six posted by Rajasthan Royals, and looked set to play themselves out of contention for the knockout stages of IPL V until, dramatically, Albie Morkel and S Anirudha took them through.